AC Milan are set to hold contract renewal talks with midfielder Ismael Bennacer, in an attempt to block transfer interest from Liverpool.
According to Alfredo Pedulla, the Serie A outfit will re-open negotiations with the 25-year-old over the next few days. This was meant to take place a few weeks ago, but the talks were later postponed.
The Rossoneri want to hand the Algeria international a new deal worth £3.5m-a-year. However, even if they fail to come to an agreement, the player will not leave the club in January.
Milan hope to hold more meetings to unblock negotiations, amid emerging transfer interest. Only then will they consider a sale in the summer.
Bennacer has various admirers from the Premier League, ‘above all Liverpool’.
Elsewhere, CalcioMercato also claim the Reds are ‘carefully monitoring’ his situation in Italy.
Milan to hold talks with Liverpool linked Bennacer
Bennacer has played a crucial part in Stefano Pioli’s midfield this season. Thus far, he has made 21 appearances for the club. This includes six matches in the Champions League, in which he started every single one.
Due to his fine displays, the Algerian has been ranked as Milan’s best player in the league this campaign, having averaged a stunning 7.29 match rating.
Although he plays in front of the back-line, the 25-year-old leads his side for key passes produced per match. Second only to Fikayo Tomori, he averages the highest number of passes per game, with an 88.7% accuracy.
As a result, he has been hailed ‘world-class’ by journalist Mina Rzouki. Jurgen Klopp seems to think the same, as he is reportedly the driving force behind Liverpool’s push for the player.
Out of contract in the summer of 2024, if Bennacer doesn’t agree to a new deal before the end of the season, the Reds may be able to land him on a cut-price deal, with Milan forced to cash-in with just a year left on his contract.
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